U.S. patent number 9,329,706 [Application Number 14/519,375] was granted by the patent office on 2016-05-03 for display device with touch panel, event switching control method, and computer-readable storage medium.
This patent grant is currently assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is RICOH COMPANY, LTD.. Invention is credited to Yuichi Kawasaki, Takanori Nagahara, Katsuyuki Omura.
United States Patent |
9,329,706 |
Kawasaki , et al. |
May 3, 2016 |
Display device with touch panel, event switching control method,
and computer-readable storage medium
Abstract
A display device includes a touch panel; a coordinate detecting
unit configured to detect coordinates on a display surface of the
touch panel; a special pen detecting unit configured to detect that
a special pen comes into physical contact with the display surface;
a timer unit configured to measure time having elapsed from when
the coordinate detecting unit detects the coordinates; and an event
issuing unit configured to issue a first event when the special pen
detecting unit detects the special pen coming into contact with the
display surface, and issue a second event when the time having
elapsed measured by the timer unit exceeds a predetermined time
.DELTA.t while the special pen detecting unit is not detecting the
special pen coming into contact with the display surface.
Inventors: |
Kawasaki; Yuichi (Kanagawa,
JP), Omura; Katsuyuki (Tokyo, JP),
Nagahara; Takanori (Kanagawa, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RICOH COMPANY, LTD. |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
RICOH COMPANY, LTD. (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
45874655 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/519,375 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150035782 A1 |
Feb 5, 2015 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
13416668 |
Mar 9, 2012 |
8907907 |
|
|
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 14, 2011 [JP] |
|
|
2011-055228 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/04883 (20130101); G06F 3/041 (20130101); G06F
3/03545 (20130101); G06F 3/0423 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/0354 (20130101); G06F 3/042 (20060101); G06F
3/041 (20060101); G06F 3/0488 (20130101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1797305 |
|
Jul 2006 |
|
CN |
|
101887327 |
|
Nov 2010 |
|
CN |
|
2000-353049 |
|
Dec 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2006-171854 |
|
Jun 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2008-176802 |
|
Jul 2008 |
|
JP |
|
4208681 |
|
Oct 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2009-3575 |
|
Jan 2009 |
|
JP |
|
2010-224635 |
|
Oct 2010 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
Office Action issued Feb. 12, 2014 in Japanese Patent Application
No. 2011-055228. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued Jul. 1, 2014 in Chinese Patent Application No.
201210065832.2 (with English Translation). cited by applicant .
Extended European Search Report issued Apr. 10, 2015 in Patent
Application No. 12158701.8. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Bibbins; Latanya
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, McClelland, Maier &
Neustadt, L.L.P.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation Application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/416,668, filed Mar. 9, 2012, which claims
priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-055228 filed in
Japan on Mar. 14, 2011. The entire contents of the above-identified
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device, comprising: processing circuitry configured to detect
that a pen comes into physical contact with a display based on a
pressure signal received from the pen, issue a first event when
detecting the pen coming into contact with the display, and issue a
second event when a predetermined time has elapsed while not
detecting the pen coming into contact with the display, wherein the
processing circuitry is further configured to cancel a change
applied by the second event when issuing the first event due to the
detection of the pen coming into contact with the display after the
second event is issued.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing
circuitry is further configured to cancel the change applied by the
second event when issuing the first event due to the detection of
the pen coming into contact with the display after the second event
is issued and when a time during which the second event is issued
is shorter than a predetermined time.
3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the processing
circuitry stores therein a last display content when the second
event is issued, and restores a current display to the stored
display content when issuing the first event due to the detection
of the pen coming into contact with the display after the second
event is issued.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device with a touch
panel, an event switching control method performed in the display
device, and a computer-readable storage medium that causes a
computer to execute the event switching control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Being available in the market are products so-called "electronic
whiteboards" including a large size display having a size of about
40 inches to 60 inches such as a flat panel, e.g., a liquid crystal
display and a plasma display, and one using a video projector, and
a touch panel mounted on the display. When a personal computer is
connected to these products, such products can project an enlarged
image of a screen of the personal computer thus connected, and is
used for purposes such as making presentations in a meeting.
Usually, these products provide "a function for operating a
personal computer via a touch panel" utilizing functions of the
touch panel mounted on the product so that a user can touch a
projected image of the screen directly to make operations on the
computer having the screen image projected, instead of making
operations with a mouse. Such equipment is also provided with
electronic whiteboard application software running on the personal
computer to be connected to the equipment. The application software
provides "functions for allowing handwriting via a touch panel",
such as a function for providing a screen functioning as a
whiteboard and allowing a user to handwrite letters and the like
via the touch panel, and a function for capturing the screen image
of the personal computer running the application and allowing the
user to handwrite something over the image.
For a touch panel used in such an electronic whiteboard, an optical
touch panel is often used for reasons that, for example, a large
display, e.g., in a size of 50 inches, can be applied, and no
film-like structure needs to be pasted on the display surface so
that the image quality of a flat panel display such as a liquid
crystal display and a plasma display does not deteriorate. One of
characteristics of an optical touch panel is that "any pen-like
stick or finger (hereinafter, referred to as a stylus) interrupting
or reflecting light" can be used in touching or writing, as
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-176802,
for example.
Such an optical touch panel determines whether a stylus is inserted
into the display surface, that is, whether the stylus is brought
into contact with the display surface based on whether the light
(hereinafter, referred to as probe light) disposed near the display
surface is interrupted or reflected by a predetermined amount
during a process in which the stylus is inserted into the display
surface. In other words, such a determination is made based on
whether the light intensity detected by a given light receiving
element reaches a predetermined threshold. When it is determined
that the light intensity reaches the threshold, a touched position
at that time is notified to the personal computer connected to the
equipment by sending touched position information to the personal
computer as a mouse event.
However, for several reasons, it is difficult, at every point
across the entire display surface, to match the threshold and a
position of the stylus tip in a direction perpendicular to the
display surface at a moment that the stylus comes into physical
contact with the display surface. The reasons include a precision
in a mechanical arrangement of the light sources and the display
surface, dispersion of the probe light, and dispersion of the image
on the light receiving element caused by the system not always
allowing the stylus to be imaged onto the light receiving element.
Otherwise, extremely high mechanical precisions exceeding the
practical level are required to match them.
Most conventional electronic whiteboards using an optical touch
panel are designed with some margin added to the threshold, setting
the threshold to a position slightly above where the stylus comes
into a physical contact with the display surface. As a result, the
touch panel determines that the stylus touches the display surface
when the stylus is slightly above the display surface, from a
position where the stylus comes into a physical contact with the
display surface. A mouse event at the position is then issued.
In addition, many conventional electronic whiteboards are provided
with a special stylus (hereinafter, a special pen) with a pressure
sensor, for example, for detecting that the tip of the stylus is
brought into physical contact with the display surface. When a
special pen is used, touch coordinates are issued as a mouse event
when the light is interrupted by the special pen and the pen tip
comes into physical contact with the display surface and causes the
pressure sensor installed at the pen tip to detect a predetermined
pressure. In this configuration, coordinates are detected only when
the pen tip comes into physical contact with the display
surface.
As to the handwriting function via a touch panel, many electronic
whiteboard applications provides a mode for drawing freehand lines
or graphics objects (hereinafter, a draw mode) and a mode for
deleting drawn freehand lines or graphics objects (hereinafter, an
erase mode). A most popular method for switching these two modes is
clicking on a menu or a button displayed in a toolbar.
Another known method is to provide the electronic whiteboard having
a tray on which a pen and an eraser are placed and including a
sensor for detecting that the pen and the eraser are placed on the
tray, and to cause the system to determine that one of the pen and
the eraser not detected by the sensor is held in hand, to switch to
the draw mode when the pen is held in hand, and to switch to the
erase mode when the eraser is held in hand.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 4208681 discloses a technology for
operating a draw mode and a personal computer in a manner described
below. A drag length from a point where the pen comes into contact
with the display to a point where the pen is removed from the
display is measured. If the drag length measured while the draw
mode is selected is longer than a threshold, the draw mode is
continued. If the drag length is shorter, the mode is switched to
an operation mode for allowing the personal computer to be
operated. Switching from the operation mode to the draw mode is
achieved by touching a button on a toolbar.
Therefore, there is a need for an electronic whiteboard capable of
reducing the user's burden in switching events such as the draw
mode and the erase mode of an electronic whiteboard application
while operating the electronic whiteboard having a touch panel, and
of eliminating the user's need to be aware of the current mode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an embodiment, there is provided a display device that
includes a touch panel; a coordinate detecting unit configured to
detect coordinates on a display surface of the touch panel; a
special pen detecting unit configured to detect that a special pen
comes into physical contact with the display surface; a timer unit
configured to measure time having elapsed from when the coordinate
detecting unit detects the coordinates; and an event issuing unit
configured to issue a first event when the special pen detecting
unit detects the special pen coming into contact with the display
surface, and issue a second event when the time having elapsed
measured by the timer unit exceeds a predetermined time .DELTA.t
while the special pen detecting unit is not detecting the special
pen coming into contact with the display surface.
According to another embodiment, there is provided an event
switching control method performed in a display device with a touch
panel. The event switching control method includes determining
whether coordinates on a display surface of the touch panel are
detected; determining whether a special pen comes into physical
contact with the display surface; measuring time having elapsed
from when the coordinates on the display surface are detected; and
issuing a first event when the special pen comes into contact with
the display surface and issuing a second event when the time having
elapsed from the detection of the coordinates on the display
surface exceeds a predetermined time .DELTA.t without the special
pen coming into contact with the display surface.
According to still another embodiment, there is provided a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable
program stored thereon for controlling a display device with a
touch panel. The program instructs a computer to perform
determining whether coordinates on a display surface of the touch
panel are detected; determining whether a special pen comes into
physical contact with the display surface; measuring time having
elapsed from when the coordinates on the display surface are
detected; and issuing a first event when the special pen comes into
contact with the display surface and issuing a second event when
the time having elapsed from the detection of the coordinates on
the display surface exceeds a predetermined time .DELTA.t without
the special pen coming into contact with the display surface.
The above and other features, advantages and technical and
industrial significance of this invention will be better understood
by reading the following detailed description of presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an overall configuration of a display
device with a touch panel according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic of a hardware configuration of a main
processing device;
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the display device with a
touch panel according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic of a specific configuration of a special
pen;
FIG. 5 is a schematic of signals input to and output from a signal
processing unit;
FIG. 6 illustrates timing charts of a light interruption signal
output and a pressure signal output;
FIG. 7 is a first schematic for explaining operations of the signal
processing unit;
FIG. 8 is a second schematic for explaining the operations of the
signal processing unit;
FIG. 9 is a third schematic for explaining the operations of the
signal processing unit;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process performed by the signal
processing unit;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process performed by the signal
processing unit when an erase event the cancelling function is
added;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of another process performed by the signal
processing unit when the erase event cancelling function is
added;
FIG. 13 is schematic of information input to and output from a
.DELTA.t automatic setting unit; and
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process performed by the .DELTA.t
automatic setting unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be
explained with reference to some drawings. In the embodiment
described below, a touch panel used in an electronic whiteboard is
an optical touch panel, and event switching is switching between a
draw mode and an erase mode.
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an overall configuration of a display
device with a touch panel that is within the scope of the present
invention. The display device with a touch panel includes an
electronic whiteboard 10 having a touch panel (optical touch panel)
mounted on the display, a special pen 20 for touching and writing
on a display surface that also functions as a touch panel of the
electronic whiteboard 10, and a main processing device 30 such as a
personal computer. The electronic whiteboard 10 and the main
processing device 30 are connected via a cable, and the special pen
20 and the main processing device 30 are connected wirelessly or
over a wire. An operating unit and the like are also connected to
the main processing device 30, but are omitted in FIG. 1. As will
be described later, the electronic whiteboard 10 includes a
coordinate detecting unit that detects coordinates on the display
surface touched by a finger or the special pen 20. The special pen
20 includes a special pen pressure detecting unit that detects that
the special pen 20 is pressing the display surface of the
electronic whiteboard 10. The main processing device 30 stores
therein various applications and an electronic whiteboard
application, and provides various processing functions, operating
functions, hand writing functions, and the like.
FIG. 2 is a schematic of a hardware configuration of the main
processing device 30. The main processing device 30 includes an
input interface unit 31 that receives signals input from the
coordinate detecting unit included in the electronic whiteboard 10,
an input interface unit 32 that receives signals input from the
special pen pressure detecting unit included in the special pen 20,
a display output unit 33 that outputs display data to the display
unit included in the electronic whiteboard 10, an operation
receiving unit 34 that receives a user instructions and the like
from the operating unit, a central processing unit (CPU) 35 that
executes various processes, and a memory 36 storing therein various
types of software (the electronic whiteboard application and other
applications) and data required in processes executed by the CPU
35. The memory 36 collectively refers to a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and the
like.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the display device with a
touch panel in illustrated in FIG. 1 related to the present
invention. In FIG. 3, the electronic whiteboard 10 includes a
coordinate detecting unit 11, and the special pen 20 includes a
special pen pressure detecting unit 21. The main processing device
30 includes the input interface unit 31, the input interface unit
32, a signal processing unit 351, an operating system (OS) 352, an
electronic whiteboard application 353, and a timer (software timer)
354. In actual operations, the signal processing unit 351, the OS
352, the electronic whiteboard application 253, and the timer 354
are executed by the CPU 35. The main processing device 30 also
includes a .DELTA.t automatic setting unit which is to be described
later, but the .DELTA.t automatic setting unit is omitted in FIG.
3.
The coordinate detecting unit 11 included in the electronic
whiteboard 10 calculates coordinates of a stylus (the special pen)
based on signals output from sensors installed in the optical touch
panel, and notifies the coordinates to the input interface unit 31
included in the main processing device 30 at a predetermined rate.
Different coordinate calculation methods are used depending on the
configuration of the optical touch panel. For example, in one
method, the coordinates are calculated using the principle of
triangulation based on signals output from two sensors respectively
arranged on the left side and the right side of the touch panel. In
another method, a pair of a light emitting element and a light
receiving element each element of which is arranged on a side
opposing to the other along the perimeter of the display surface
and is arranged in plurality is sequentially caused to emit/receive
light, and the coordinates are calculated from the position of the
pair having the light interrupted. In this embodiment, any method
may be used.
An optical touch panel detects valid coordinates when the stylus is
inserted into the display surface and the light is interrupted by
the stylus. The coordinates and a light interruption signal are
output from the coordinate detecting unit 11 at a predetermined
rate, and are notified to the input interface unit 31. The light
interruption signal is set to "light interruption signal=true" when
the light is interrupted by a finger or the special pen 20, and is
set to "light interruption signal=false" when the light is not
interrupted. The coordinates are valid when the light interruption
signal is true, and are invalid when the light interruption signal
is false.
The special pen pressure detecting unit 21 included in the special
pen 20 detects that the special pen 20 is brought into contact with
the display surface, and notifies so to the input interface unit 32
included in the main processing device 30 at a predetermined
rate.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration of the special pen
20 including the special pen pressure detecting unit 21. The
special pen 20 includes a movable pen tip 201 disposed at the tip
of the special pen 20, a pressure sensor 202, and a signal
processing circuit 203 that processes a signal received from the
pressure sensor 202. The movable pen tip 201 is urged by a spring,
for example, not illustrated, and has a structure to push back the
pressure sensor 202 with a reaction force when the movable pen tip
201 comes into contact with the display surface and a contact
pressure is applied to the pen tip. The pressure sensor 202 has a
resistance, for example, that changes depending on a pressure. The
signal processing circuit 203 includes a conversion circuit that
converts a resistance change in the pressure sensor 202 into a
voltage, an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit that
converts the voltage into a digital value, a storage circuit that
stores therein a predetermined threshold, a threshold processing
circuit that compares a signal indicating the digital value with
the threshold stored in the storage circuit, and outputs true when
the signal indicating the digital value exceeds the threshold and
outputs false when the signal indicating the digital value does not
exceed the threshold, and an output circuit that sends as a
pressure signal the logical value received from the threshold
processing circuit to the input interface unit 32 included in the
main processing device 30 at a predetermined rate.
Alternatively, the pressure sensor 202 may be a piezo element that
generates a voltage based on a pressure. In such a configuration,
the circuit for converting a resistance change into a voltage is
not necessary.
A signal transmitted from the special pen pressure detecting unit
21 to the input interface unit 32 of the main processing device 30
corresponds to the pressure signal described above. In other words,
"pressure signal=true" when the special pen 20 comes into physical
contact with the display surface, and "pressure signal=false" when
not.
The signal processing unit 351 included in the main processing
device 30 receives the signals output from the coordinate detecting
unit 11 and the special pen pressure detecting unit 21 via the
input interface unit 31 and the input interface unit 32,
respectively, and outputs a mouse event of one of a draw event
(first event) or an erase event (second event) depending on the
status of these signals. The OS 352 receives the mouse event from
the signal processing unit 351, and controls execution of an
electronic whiteboard application 353. The timer 354 measures the
time having elapsed from when the coordinate detecting unit 11
detects the coordinates, under the control of the signal processing
unit 351. The timer 354 also measures the time during which the
erase event is being issued. In other words, the timer 354
collectively represents various timer functions.
Operations performed by the signal processing unit 351, which is
the central part of the present invention, will now be explained in
detail. The operations of the signal processing unit 351 are
generally classified into an event issuing function in which a draw
event or an erase event is issued depending on the signals received
from the coordinate detecting unit 11 and the special pen pressure
detecting unit 21, and a cancelling function in which a change
resulting from an erase event that is generated as a noise is
cancelled. To begin with, the event issuing function will be
explained.
FIG. 5 summarizes signals input to and output from the signal
processing unit 351. The signal processing unit 351 receives a
light interruption signal (true/false value: true if the light is
interrupted, and false if the light is not interrupted), and
coordinates (x and y coordinates) from the coordinate detecting
unit 11 via the input interface unit 31. The signal processing unit
351 also receives a pressure signal (true/false value: true if the
pen is in contact, and false if the pen is not in contact) from the
special pen pressure detecting unit 21 via the input interface unit
32. The signal processing unit 351 outputs a draw event (first
event) or an erase event (second event). In practice, the
coordinates are contained in the draw event/erase event.
FIG. 6 illustrates timing charts of the light interruption signal
and the pressure signal, among the signals input to the signal
processing unit 351.
To begin with, explained with reference to (a) of FIG. 6 are
signals input to the signal processing unit 351 when the special
pen 20 touches the display surface. The "special pen contact"
indicated at the top is a timing chart indicating a physical
contact made by the special pen 20 with the display surface. The
two charts located below are a timing chart indicating a light
interruption signal input to the signal processing unit 351 from
the coordinate detecting unit 11, and a timing chart indicating the
pressure signal input to the signal processing unit 351 from the
special pen pressure detecting unit 21. A rise in these charts
represents true, and a drop represents false.
The light interruption signal is a true/false signal indicating
timing at which the probe light is interrupted. Generally, in an
optical touch panel, the probe light is interrupted at timing
earlier than the timing the special pen 20 actually comes into
contact with the display surface. When the probe light is
interrupted, the light interruption signal is set to true. At the
same time as the probe light is interrupted, a coordinate signal of
that time is calculated. The pressure signal is a true/false signal
issued by the special pen pressure detecting unit 21. Based on the
operations of the pressure sensor 202, a true/false value is input
to the signal processing unit 351 in synchronization with the
special pen 20 coming into a physical contact with the display
surface.
On the contrary, when a finger is used to touch the display
surface, the probe light is interrupted and the light interruption
signal is set to true, but the pressure signal is not set to true
and is kept false, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 6.
The signal processing unit 351 follows different operation patterns
illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 depending on the light interruption
signal and the pressure signal.
FIG. 7 illustrates an operation performed when the light
interruption signal is received but the pressure signal is not
received (when the pressure signal is not set to true). When the
pressure signal is not set to true and the light interruption
signal is kept true although a predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses
from when the light interruption signal is received, an erase event
is output at a point in time when the time .DELTA.t elapses. In
other words, FIG. 7 represents an example in which the finger is
used to touch the display surface, and therefore, the pressure
signal does not change to true. In this example, the erase event is
ended at the timing the light interruption signal is set to
false.
FIG. 8 illustrates an operation performed when the pressure signal
is set to true before the predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from
when the light interruption signal is received. When the pressure
signal is set to true before the predetermined time .DELTA.t
elapses from when the light interruption signal is received, a draw
event is issued at the timing the pressure signal is set to true. A
draw event is issued at a point in time indicted by a circle in
FIG. 8. FIG. 8 represents an example in which the time having
elapsed from when the special pen 20 touches the display surface
and the light interruption signal is set to true to when the pen
tip comes into contact with the display surface and the pressure
signal is set to true is shorter than .DELTA.t. In this situation,
the draw event is ended at the timing the pressure signal changes
from true to false.
FIG. 9 illustrates an operation performed when the pressure signal
is set to true after the predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from
when the light interruption signal is received. In other words,
FIG. 9 represents an example in which the special pen 20 is used to
touch the display surface, and the time having elapsed from when
the light interruption signal is set to true to when the pen tip
comes into contact with the display surface and the pressure signal
is set to true is longer than .DELTA.t. In this example, an erase
event is generated instantaneously, and, at the time the pressure
signal is set to true, the erase event is ended and a draw event is
issued. The draw event is then ended at the time the pressure
signal changes to false.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process for realizing the event issuing
function of the signal processing unit 351. Each of the operation
modes illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 are realized by this process.
The signal processing unit 351 waits until the light interruption
signal is received (Step S1001). If the light interruption signal
is received (light interruption signal=true), the timer is set, and
is caused to start counting (Step S1002). The signal processing
unit 351 then determines if the pressure signal is received from
the special pen 20 (Step S1003).
If the pressure signal is received (pressure signal=true), the
signal processing unit 351 issues a draw event (Step S1004). After
the draw event is issued, the signal processing unit 351 monitors
the pressure signal again (Step S1005), and as long as the pressure
signal=true, the signal processing unit 351 keeps issuing the draw
event. If the pressure signal is no longer received, the signal
processing unit 351 stops issuing the draw event, and ends the
operation. The signal processing unit 351 then returns to the
start.
On the contrary, if the pressure signal is not received, the signal
processing unit 351 obtains the count value from the timer, and
determines if the count value has reached the predetermined time
.DELTA.t (Step S1006). If the count value has not reached .DELTA.t,
the system control returns to Step S1003. If the count value has
reached .DELTA.t, the signal processing unit 351 issues an erase
event (Step S1007), and observes if the pressure signal is received
(Step S1008). If the pressure signal is received, the signal
processing unit 351 issues a draw event (Step S1004). Operations
performed thereafter are the same as those performed when pressure
signal is received described above. If the pressure signal is not
received, the signal processing unit 351 determines the status of
the light interruption signal (Step S1009). As long as the light
interruption signal=true, the signal processing unit 351 keeps
issuing the erase event. If the light interruption signal is no
longer received, the signal processing unit 351 stops issuing the
erase event, and ends the operation. The signal processing unit 351
then returns to the start.
The cancelling function of the signal processing unit 351 will now
be explained. The cancelling function is a function for cancelling
an erase event generated as a noise, when the pressure signal
changes to true after the predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from
when light interruption signal is received (FIG. 9). There are two
approaches for determining whether an erase event is a noise. The
first approach is to determine all erase events issued before the
pressure signal is set to true to be noises when the pressure
signal is set to true after .DELTA.t elapses from when light
interruption signal is received. The second approach is to measure
the time during which an erase event is being issued, and to
determine the erase event to be a noise when such time is equal to
or less than a predetermined time .DELTA.t1. To cancel an erase
event that is determined to be a noise, the last drawing condition
(last display content) needs to be stored when the erase event is
issued, and once the pressure signal is set to true and the event
is switched to a draw event, the drawing condition before the erase
event is issued needs to be restored.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a first process performed by the signal
processing unit 351 when the erase event cancelling function is
added. In this process, the signal processing unit 351 determines
if an erase event is a noise using the first approach. In FIG. 11,
the steps surrounded by thick lines are added to the process
illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 10.
The signal processing unit 351 issues an erase event when the
predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from when the light
interruption signal is received while the pressure signal is not
received (Step S2007). At this time, the last condition is stored
(Step S2008). If the pressure signal is not received thereafter but
the light interruption signal is received, the system control
returns to issuing of an erase event, and the last condition is
stored in the same way (Steps S2009, S2011, S2007, and S2008). If
the pressure signal is then received (Step S2009), the signal
processing unit 351 restores the current drawing condition to the
stored condition, in other words, the signal processing unit 351
cancels all of the erase events issued after .DELTA.t has elapsed
(Step S2010), and issues a draw event (Step S2004).
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a second process performed by the signal
processing unit 351 when the cancelling function is added. In this
process, the signal processing unit 351 determines if an erase
event is a noise using the second approach. In FIG. 12, the steps
surrounded by thick lines are added to the process illustrate in
the flowchart of FIG. 10. In FIG. 12, the timer is classified into
a timer waiting to be identified and an event issuing time
measuring timer.
The signal processing unit 351 issues an erase event when the
predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from when the light
interruption signal is received and the pressure signal is not
received (Step S3007). At this time, the last condition is stored
(Step S3008), and the event issuing time measuring timer is set,
and caused to start measuring the time during which the erase event
is issued (Step S3009). If the pressure signal is received
subsequently (Step S3010), the signal processing unit 351 further
determines if the erase event issuing time is equal to or less than
the predetermined time .DELTA.t1 (Step S3011). If the event issuing
time is equal to or less than .DELTA.t1, the signal processing unit
351 restores the current drawing condition to the stored drawing
condition via a cancelling process (Step S3012), and issues a draw
event (Step S3004). On the contrary, if the erase event issuing
time is longer than .DELTA.t1, the system control directly goes to
issuing of a draw event. The other steps are the same as those
illustrated in FIG. 11.
Explained below is how the predetermined time .DELTA.t is set. A
noise generated when pressure signal is set to true after the
predetermined time .DELTA.t elapses from when the light
interruption signal is received (an erase event generated as a
noise) (FIG. 9) is in a tradeoff relationship with usability. In
other words, when .DELTA.t is increased, generation of a noise is
reduced, but the usability is reduced as well. On the contrary, if
.DELTA.t is reduced, the usability is improved but a noise might be
generated frequently. Therefore, it is necessary to set an
appropriate .DELTA.t. Possible ways to set .DELTA.t include
allowing a user to specify a given time (milliseconds), and
allowing the main processing device 30 to specify .DELTA.t
automatically.
When .DELTA.t is set by a user, the operation receiving unit 34
(FIG. 2) receives .DELTA.t input via an operating unit and the
like, and stores .DELTA.t in a memory and the like. In other words,
the operation receiving unit 34 functions as a setting unit that
enables a user to set a given .DELTA.t.
When .DELTA.t is automatically set by the main processing device
30, a .DELTA.t automatic setting unit (function) is included in the
main processing device 30, and automatically updates .DELTA.t
depending on usage conditions.
FIG. 13 illustrates information input to and output from a .DELTA.t
automatic setting unit 355. In FIG. 13, .DELTA.t' represent a prior
.DELTA.t. The initial value of .DELTA.t .degree. may be any value,
and may be specified by a user. The target noise generation ratio
is a noise generation ratio that is given as a target in advance.
The pressure signal detection count value is the number of times
the pressure signal is detected, and is the number of times the
pressure signal is set to true at Steps S2003 and S2009 in FIG. 11,
or the number of times the pressure signal is set to true at Steps
S3003 and S3010 in FIG. 12, for example. The noise generation count
value is the number of times a noise is generated, and is the
number of times the pressure signal is set to true at Step S2009 in
FIG. 11, or the number of times yes matches at Step S3011, e.g.,
the number of times the cancelling process is performed in FIG. 12,
for example. The pressure signal detection count value and the
noise generation count value are counted and stored in a memory and
the like by the signal processing unit 351.
The .DELTA.t automatic setting unit 355 obtains the pressure signal
detection count value and the noise generation count value from the
memory and the like, calculates the noise generation ratio,
compares the noise generation ratio with the target noise
generation ratio, and updates .DELTA.t' to a new .DELTA.t.
A noise generation ratio is a ratio of the number of noises
generated to the number of times the display surface is touched
with the pen, and is calculated by the equation below. Noise
Generation Ratio=Noise Generation Count value/Pressure Signal
Detection Count value
The number of times the display surface is touched with the pen is
equivalent of the number of times the pressure signal is detected,
that is, equivalent of the number of times a draw event (first
event) is issued.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process performed by the .DELTA.t
automatic setting unit 355. To begin with, the .DELTA.t automatic
setting unit 355 obtains the pressure signal detection count value
and the noise generation count value (Step S4001), and calculates
the noise generation ratio (Step S4002). The .DELTA.t automatic
setting unit 355 then compares the noise generation ratio thus
calculated with the target noise generation ratio (Step S4003). If
the noise generation ratio is equal to or higher than the target
noise generation ratio, .DELTA.t' is corrected to a higher value
(Step S4004), and the value is set as a new .DELTA.t (Step S4006).
On the contrary, if the noise generation ratio is lower than the
target, .DELTA.t' is corrected to a lower value (Step S4005). By
performing this process every time the pressure signal is detected,
.DELTA.t can be updated automatically.
One embodiment of the present invention is explained above.
However, it should be needless to say that the present invention
may also be realized by configuring processing units such as the
signal processing unit and the .DELTA.t automatic setting unit as
computer programs and by causing a computer to execute the computer
programs, or by configuring processes performed by such processing
units as computer programs and by causing a computer to execute the
computer programs. It is also possible to store and provide the
computer programs for realizing processing functions of the
processing units or computer programs for causing a computer to
execute such processes in a manner recorded in a computer-readable
recording medium such as a flexible disk (FD), a magneto-optical
(MO) disk, a random access memory (ROM), a memory card, a compact
disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), and a removable disk, as
well as to distribute the computer program over a network such as
the Internet.
Modes Other than Draw Mode and Erase Mode
In the embodiment, event switching is performed between a draw mode
and an erase mode, and a draw mode is selected when an operation is
made using a special pen, and an erase mode is selected when an
operation is made using an instrument other than the special pen
(e.g., a finger). However, the present invention is also effective
for switching between other modes used in the electronic whiteboard
application installed in the main processing device, and can
provide a mode switching in which burden of switching modes is
reduced and a user is not required to be aware of the current mode.
Furthermore, the same advantageous effects can be achieved by
reversing the mode applied to the operation made with the special
pen to the mode applied to the operation performed with an
instrument other than the special pen.
Examples of modes (events) used in the electronic whiteboard
application include those listed below. Draw mode: a mode for
allowing a freehand drawing
Draw mode with a pen color designation Draw mode with a pen color
designation (black) Draw mode with a pen color designation (blue) .
. .
Draw mode with a pen thickness designation Draw mode with a pen
thickness designation (1 point) Draw mode with a pen thickness
designation (2 point) . . .
Draw mode with a transparency designation Draw mode with a
transparency designation .alpha.=0.1 Draw mode with a transparency
designation .alpha.=0.2 . . . Erase mode: a mode for erasing a
freehand line Select mode: a mode for selecting a freehand line
About Touch Panel
In the embodiments, an example of the optical touch panel is
explained. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.
As long as the touch panel is provided with a mechanism for
detecting that the special pen comes into physical contact with the
display surface, the present invention may be applied to a touch
panel of following types, for example.
Resistive type
Surface acoustic wave type (ultrasonic type)
Surface capacitive type
Projected capacitive type
Provided that a conductive special pen needs to be used for the
surface capacitive type and the projected capacitive type.
In the embodiments, the first event such as a draw mode is issued
when the special pen comes into physical contact with the display
surface. If coordinates on the display surface are detected without
the special pen coming into physical contact with the display
surface, a predetermined time is waited without issuing the second
event such as the erase mode immediately. If the special pen coming
into physical contact with the display surface is not detected
although the predetermined time elapses, the second event such as
an erase mode is issued. If the special pen coming into physical
contact with the display surface is detected before the
predetermined time elapses, the first event such as the draw mode
is issued.
According to the embodiments, while an electronic whiteboard
including a display device with a touch panel is being operated, if
an operation is made with the special pen, the first event such as
the draw mode is selected. If an operation is made using an object
other than the special pen (e.g., a finger), the second event such
as the erase mode is selected. Therefore, the user's burden in
switching events can be reduced, and events can be switched without
requiring the user to be aware of the current mode.
The present invention can be implemented in any convenient form,
for example using dedicated hardware, or a mixture of dedicated
hardware and software. The present invention may be implemented as
computer software implemented by one or more network processing
apparatus. The network can comprise any conventional terrestrial or
wireless communications network, such as the Internet. The
processing apparatus can compromise any suitably programmed
apparatuses such as a general purpose computer, personal digital
assistant, mobile telephone (such as a WAP or 3G-compliant phone)
and so on. Since the present invention can be implemented as
software, each and every aspect of the present invention thus
encompasses computer software implemental on a programmable device.
The computer software can be provided to the programmable device
using any storage medium for storing processor readable code such
as a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, magnetic tape device or solid
state memory device.
The hardware platform includes any desired kind of hardware
resources including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU),
a random access memory (RAM), and a hard disk drive (HDD). The CPU
may be implemented by any desired kind of any desired number of
processor. The RAM may be implemented by any desired kind of
volatile or non-volatile memory. The HDD may be implemented by any
desired kind of non-volatile memory capable of storing a large
amount of data. The hardware resources may additionally include an
input device, an output device, or a network device, depending on
the type of the apparatus. Alternatively, the HDD may be provided
outside of the apparatus as long as the HDD is accessible. In this
example, the CPU, such as a cache memory of the CPU, and the RAM
may function as a physical memory or a primary memory of the
apparatus, while the HDD may function as a secondary memory of the
apparatus.
Although the invention has been described with respect to specific
embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended
claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as
embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may
occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic
teaching herein set forth.
* * * * *